Urinary incontinence

Introduction

Urinary incontinence happens when you lose bladder control or you leak urine involuntarily. It affects 9 million to 13 million people of all ages in the United States. The majority are women, and it is most common among elderly women. The more times a woman has given birth, the more her risk of urinary incontinence goes up. Smoking is also a risk factor.

Most of these women have stress incontinence, where you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise. Another type is urge incontinence, when you may have to "go" suddenly and can't hold the urine in. Some women have both types. Some people may experience temporary incontinence.

Signs and Symptoms

Not being able to hold your urine until you get to a bathroom

Frequent and unusual urges to urinate

What Causes It?

Stretched pelvic muscles from pregnancy and childbirth; women with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk

Low estrogen levels in women

Enlarged prostate in men

Side effects of certain medications

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Frequent constipation

Being overweight

Diseases that damage nerve pathways from the bladder to the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis

Weakened muscles that control urination, such as urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles

What to Expect at Your Doctor's Office

Your doctor will give you a physical examination and ask questions about:

Any past prostate problems

Pregnancy or hysterectomy

Your pattern of urinating

When your urine leakage occurs

Whether you strain or have discomfort when urinating

You may be asked to cough vigorously to see if it causes urine loss. This is a sign of stress incontinence.

Your doctor may suggest urine tests to find:

Infection

Urinary stones

Diabetes

Other underlying causes

A pelvic ultrasound may be done to look at your bladder, kidneys, and urethra.

Treatment Options

Treatment can help more than 80% of people with urinary incontinence. Exercise and behavioral therapies are most successful. But there are also several drugs available to help with urge incontinence, including:

Tolterodine (Detrol)

Darifenacin (Enablex)

Fesoterodine fumarate (Toviaz)

Options for urge incontinence that hasn't responded to medication include:

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (or PTNS), which involves electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve by way of the tibial nerve. This would be done in your doctor's office.

InterStim Therapy, where a device is implanted that directly stimulates the sacral nerve.

Surgery may help women with stress incontinence and men with an enlarged prostate. Other options include:

Catheters

Urethral plugs

Condom catheters

Vaginal slings

Absorbent pads or underwear

Recent studies suggest that midurethral slings are the most commonly performed surgical treatments for stress incontinence.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Common alternative therapies include:

Kegel exercises: To strengthen pelvic floor muscles, squeeze and hold the muscles, then release. To find the muscles, pretend you are trying not to pass gas or trying to stop the flow of urine without tightening your buttocks or abdominals. Hold the muscles tight for a count of 10, then relax for a count of 10. Work your way up to 20 repetitions, twice daily.

Biofeedback: Using a machine that shows you when you are exercising the right muscles can help you learn to do the exercises properly.

Relaxation techniques may help you go longer without urinating.

Bladder retraining helps your body get used to going to the bathroom on a regular schedule.

Other alternative therapies include:

Acupuncture

Hypnosis

Yoga

Herbal therapies

Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using.

Nutrition and Supplements

Cranberries and blueberries contain substances that keep bacteria from sticking to the bladder. This may help prevent urinary tract infections that can make incontinence worse. However, some people with overactive bladder may find that cranberries irritate their bladder because they are acidic. People who are allergic to aspirin, and those who take other medications, should not take large amounts of cranberry supplements.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and tobacco.

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of filtered water daily. While you may think you should limit liquids, not drinking enough water can irritate the bladder and make incontinence worse.

Some foods may make urge incontinence worse for some people, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, caffeine, and carbonated sodas. In one study, researchers linked caffeine consumption of about 2 cups of coffee daily (250 mg) with moderate-to-severe urinary incontinence among men.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

One study suggested that chondroitin sulfate helped with symptoms or urge incontinence and overactive bladder, as well as the medication Detrol. More studies are needed to know whether it really works. Avoid chondroitin sulfate if you are allergic to shellfish or have asthma. Chondroitin sulfate can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix). Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take chondroitin sulfate. Men with prostate cancer should ask their doctor before taking chondroitin.

Herbs

Herbs are a way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. Speak to your doctor about any herbal therapies you are considering.

One laboratory study suggested that St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has the potential to help with urinary incontinence. But this use has not been tested in humans. St. John's wort can interfere with many medications. Check with your doctor before taking St. John's wort if you are taking prescription medications, including birth control pills. St. John's wort can affect mood, so people with a history of psychiatric illness should ask their doctors before taking it. Don't take St. John's wort if you are trying to become pregnant or if you have a history of liver disease.

Homeopathy

The following are some of the most common remedies used for urinary incontinence. Usually, the dose is 3 to 5 pellets of a 12X to 30C remedy every 1 to 4 hours until symptoms improve.

Causticum for stress incontinence, especially with retention from holding the urine and frequent urges to urinate

Natrum muriaticum for stress incontinence, vaginal dryness, and pain during sex, especially with a history of grief

Pareira for retention of urine from an enlarged prostate

Sepia for stress incontinence with sudden urge to urinate, especially with prolapsed uterus and vaginitis

Zincum for stress incontinence, urinary retention from prostate problems, and the inability to urinate while standing

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may help, depending on what's causing the incontinence. Acupuncture may also strengthen the urinary system. In one study, women who received 4 weekly bladder acupuncture treatments had significant improvement in symptoms of urinary incontinence compared to women who received placebo treatments.

Following Up

Exercise and behavioral therapy can help many people get rid of their symptoms. You have to stick with the changes for them to work, so it may help to have support from a loved one and close monitoring by your doctor.

Special Considerations

If you are pregnant, consult with your doctor before taking any medication. For men, regular prostate examinations can find problems early. If the condition worsens, patients may suffer from depression, recurrent urinary tract infections, and social isolation.

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